Electromagnetic relays



y 6, 1959 G. BRAUMANN 2,888,532

7 ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAYS Filed Jan. 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J72yezzivr G'undmar Pa/zanarua y 1959 G. BRAUMANN 2,888,532

ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAYS Filed Jan. 25, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

I 71/ van/Z02 6unclavar .Brau/manm 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 25, 19562,888,532 ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAYS Gundokar Braumann, Munich, Germany,assignor to Siemens & Halske Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, Germany, acorporation of Germany This invention is concerned with electromagneticrelays.

Relays of this type are provided with a current carrying coilsurrounding a core of magnetically conductive material which is at itsopposite ends magnetically oppositely polarized. In known embodiments,there are provided projecting pole pieces, one of such pole piecescarrying at one end thereof a movable member constituting an armature.The core is magnetized upon energization. The magnetic flux attempts toflow in a closed circuit over the pole pieces and the armature andacross the air gap between the armature and the opposing pole piece,thereby causing attraction of the armature. The armature motionresulting from the attractive force of the opposing pole piece isutilized for the actuation of switching elements.

In prior relay arrangements, various attempts were made, partly by usingsuitable materials and partly by structural changes, to improve theswitching efiect at identical energization by reduction of lossesoccurring in the conversion of electrical into mechanical and thenceinto the motion energy which effects the switching operation. Forexample, the mass to be moved or displaced was held small by variousexpedients.

The invention points a new way toward a solution of the problemsinvolved in obtaining with a given energization a switching effect asgreat as possible and achieves this aim by the provision of an armaturein the form of a springy and magnetically conductive leafiike elementwhich engages one pole piece, facing across an air gap the opposite polepiece, the pole pieces being laterally mutually displaced andoverlapping at their free ends, the armature leaf engaging the polepiece being upon energization identically polarized and repelled by suchpole piece and being at the same time attracted by the other pole piecewhich is upon energization oppositely polarized.

The advantage of the new arrangement as compared with prior structuresis that the springy armature leaf is not only acted upon by theattractive force of the oppositely polarized pole piece but also by therepellent force of the identically polarized pole piece. The forceacting upon the leaflike armature is thereby with identical energizationincreased and the switching effect is accordingly similarly improved.The arrangement according to the invention therefore makes it possibleto provide with considerably reduced structural relay size for aswitching eifect equal to that of previously known relays.

in accordance with another object and feature, the number of switchingoperations to be performed by the relay are doubled by the arrangementof two springy leafiike members outside of one of the pole pieces andcooperation therewith of corresponding pole pieces which are uponenergization oppositely polarized.

Further increase of the number of switching operations may be elfectedby providing a relay coil or winding with several mutually independentmagnetic circuits each 2 comprising a pole piece with one or two springyleaflike elements engaging the outside thereof and pole piecesrespectively associated therewith which are upon energization oppositelypolarized. The individual magnetic circuits are for space-saving reasonsdisposed mutually displaced.

The relay according to the invention is particularly suitable forswitching electrical circuits. The leaflike elements and also the polepieces are for this purpose made of electrically conductive material.They may however also be provided with coatings, for example,galvanically provided layers of electrically conductive material, orwith conductive coatings, for example, in the form of foils.

The contact points are advantageously made of highgrade material, forexample, silver. It is in this connection favorable to provide thecooperating contacts in the form of elongated elements which arearranged for crossing operation.

The mutually independent magnetic circuits are for better spaceutilization nestled in the coil body so that the contact points aredisposed alternately at the opposite coil ends.

The coil body which is advantageously made of artificial material bypressing, die casting or molding is in accordance with a further objectand feature of the invention provided with several parallel extendinghollow spaces for receiving the individual iron or magnetic circuits.Each hollow space may be provided with suitably spaced grooves forreceiving the individual parts of the corresponding iron circuits. Theinterposition of special insulating material is thereby avoided. Inorder to avoid the use of fastening means for the individual parts, suchparts are made in undulating form or provided with projections forwedgelike disposal in the grooves.

The terminal members for the current-carrying elements of the relayaccording to the invention are particularly advantageously formed. Theyare provided in staggered different lengths and wedgeor fork-shaped attheir free ends to extend over the rim of the corresponding coil disks.This formation makes it possible to slip the relay pluglike upon alikewise staggered bare Wire multiple having perpendicularly extendingelements. The relay is in this manner fixed in position withoutrequiring any special fastening means outside of the necessary solderingat the terminal points.

If the relay is to be used in a circuit containing other electricalelements, for example, rectifiers, such elements may be built into thecoil body and provided with corresponding terminal members forconnection with the bare wire multiple. The ends of the coil winding areadvantageously also connected with the multiple by means of suchterminals.

The above indicated and additional objects and features will be broughtout in the description of an embodiment of the invention which isrendered below with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.In these drawings Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the magnetic action inconnection with an embodiment comprising two springy leaves engaging apole piece, Fig. 1 showing the arrangement in deenergized and Fig. 2 inenergized condition, the coil winding being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a relay with dependent iron circuits; and

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a relay with the terminal members forengagement with the bare wire multiple.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, numeral 1 indicates a pole piece withassociated springy leaves 2 and 3. Respectively associated with theleaves 2 and 3 are the pole pieces 4 and 5 which are also made ofelectrically contwo mutually inductive material or provided withsuitable corresponding conductive coatings or layers. An insulatingmember 6 separates the two circuits thereby also insulating the polepieces 4 and against theleaves. When the relay is energized, the polepiece 1 and the leaves 2 and 3 will be similarly polarized and 1 willaccordingly repel 2 and 3. The leaves 2 and 3 are at the same timeattracted by the pole pieces 4 and 5 which are upon energizationoppositely polarized, and the leaves 2 and 3 accordingly assume thepositions shown in Fig. 2. The circuits to be switched are closed by wayof elongated mutually crossing contact members 7 and 8, carriedrespectively by the leaves 2 and 3 and springs 9 and it Upon conclusionof the energization, the leaves 2 and 3 return due to their springyaction into the normal position shown in Fig. l.

' In Fig. 3 is shown a relay coil 12 provided with several iron circuitsfor the purpose of increasing the number of switching circuits to becontrolled. Numeral 11 indicates the coil spool. The contact points aremutually displaced for better utilization of the available space. Partscorresponding to those shown in Fig. 1 are similarly referenced.

An iron circuit may comprise a pole piece or shoe with springy leavesand respectively associated pole shoes or pieces disposed along itsopposite sides, as shown in Figs. land 2, or in simpler form, one polepiece associated with one leaflike element and a pole piece associatedtherewith.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the relay according to the invention is pluggedin engagement with a multiple comprising crossing staggered bare wireconductors, each of the terminal members 13 of the relay will, due tothe staggered arrangement of the multiple and its own terminal members,always establish connection with a predetermined one respectivelyassociated conductor of the multiple. The terminal elements or members13 are tapered for frictional engagement with the conductors of themultiple, such frictional engagement being secured by soldering,providing good contacting and being sufficient to hold the relay inposition. This effect is obtained by wedge-shaped formation of theterminal members 13 and may also be obtained by another suitable, forexample, forked formation thereof. Numeral 11 indicates end members ofthecoil spool; 12 indicates a coil or winding; the remaining numeralsindicate correspondingly marked pants shown in Figs. 1-3.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claimswhich define what is believed to be new and desired to have protected byLetters Patent.

I claim;

l. Electromagnetic relay comprising a magnetizing coil, an electricallyconductive and generally U-shaped first pole piece, an electricallyconductive and generally being upon energization of said coilidentically polarized to set up a repellent force therebetween causingsaid armature to move away from said leg in the direction of theexteriorly extending leg of said second pole piece, the exteriorlyextending leg of said second pole piece being coincidently oppositelypolarized to produce an attractive force for said armature, eachcontiguous pole piece and leafiike member forming an electrical circuit,and insulating means separating the two circuits for insulating the polepieces from the leafiike members.

2. Electromagnetic relay comprising a magnetizing coil, an electricallyconductive and generally U-shaped first pole piece, an electricallyconductive and generally U-shapedresilient leaflike member, saidleaflike'member disposed alongside said first pole piece, identical legsof said first pole piece and said leaflike member extending inside ofsaid magnetizing coil and identical opposite legs thereof extendingoutside of said coil, the leg of said leaflike member extending outsidesaid c'oil constituting anarmature, an electrically conductive andsecond generally L-shaped pole piece having one leg thereof extendinginside said coil adjacent said first pole piece and having the other legthereof extending outside said coil with the free end thereof disposedopposite the 'free end of said armature and normally spaced therefrom byan air gap, an electrically conductive and generally L-shaped contactspring disposed alongside said L-shaped second pole piece, an extensioncarried by said spring, elongated mutually crossing contact meanscarried respectivelyby said armature and said extension, said extensionof said contact spring formed with a slot to provide two arms, saidcontact carried by each-arm for cooperation with the contact meanscarried bysaid armature, the. exteriorly disposed leg of said first polepiece and correspondingly disposed leg of said leaflike memberconstituting said armature being upon-energiza: tion of said coilidentically polarized to set up a repellent force therebetween causingsaid armature to move away from said leg in the direction of theexteriorly extending leg of said second pole piece, the exteriorlyextending leg of said second pole piece being coincidently oppositelypolarized to produce an attractive force for said armature, eachcontiguous pole piece and leaflike member forming an electrical circuit,insulating means separating thetwo circuits for insulating the polepieces from the leaflike members, and terminal means extendingrespectively from said armature and said second pole piece to theidentical side of said relay.

U-shaped resilient leafiike member, said leafiike member disposedalongside'said first pole piece, identical legs of said first pole pieceand said leaflike member extending inside of said magnetizing coil andidentical opposite legs thereof extending outside of said coil, the legof said leaflike member extending outside said coil constituting anarmature, an electrically conductive andsecond generally L-shape'd polepiece having one leg thereof extending inside said coil adjacent saidfirst pole piece and having the other leg thereof extending outside saidcoil with the free end thereof disposed opposite the free end of saidarmature and normally spaced therefrom by an air gap, an electricallyconductive and generally L-shaped contact spring disposed alongsidesaidL-shaped second pole piece, an" extension carried by'said spring,elongated mutually crossing contact means carried respectively by saidarmature and .said. extension, said extension of said contact springformed with a slot to provide two arms, said contact carried by each armfor cooperation with the contact means carried by said armature, theexteriorly disposed leg of said first pole piece and correspondinglydisposed l i? s id lsafl lse m m er. c ut n s ma re 3. Electromagneticrelay comprising a magnetizing coil, an electrically conductive andgenerally U-shaped first pole piece, an electrically conductive andgenerally U-shaped resilient leaflike member, said leaflike memberdisposed alongside said first pole piece, identical legs of said firstpole piece and said leaflike member extending inside of said magnetizingcoil and identical opposite legs thereof extending outside of said coil,the leg of said leaflike member extending outside said coil constitutingan armature, an electrically conductive and second generally L-shapedpole piece having one leg thereof extending inside said coil adjacentsaid first pole piece and having the other leg thereof extending outsidesaid coil with the free end thereof disposed opposite the free end ofsaid armature and normally spaced therefrom by an air gap, anelectrically conductive and generally L-shaped contact spring disposedalongside said L-shaped second pole piece, an extension carried by saidspring, elongated mutually crossing contact means carried respectivelyby said armature and said extension, said extension of said contactspring formed with a slot to provide two arms, said contact carried byeach arm for cooperation with the contact means carried by saidarmature, the exteriorly disposed leg of said first pole piece andcorrespondingly disposed leg of said leaflike member constituting saidarmature being upon energiza: t i on of said coil identicallypolarizedto .set up a re-v pellent force therebetween causing said armature tomove away from said leg in the direction of the exteriorly extending legof said second pole piece, the exteriorly extending leg of said secondpole piece being coincidently oppositely polarized to produce anattractive force for said armature, each contiguous pole piece andleaflike member forming an electrical circuit, insulating meansseparating the two circuits for insulating the pole pieces from theleaflike members, and said magnetizing coil comprising a spool body,said spool body having channels formed therein for respectivelyreceiving the leg of said first pole piece and the cooperating leg ofsaid leaflike member and the legs of said second pole piece andcooperating contact spring.

4. Electromagnetic relay comprising a magnetizing coil, an electricallyconductive and generally U-shaped first pole piece, an electricallyconductive and generally U-shaped resilient leaflike member, saidleaflike member disposed alongside said first pole piece, identical legsof said first pole piece and said leaflike member extending inside ofsaid magnetizing coil and identical opposite legs thereof extendingoutside of said coil, the leg of said leaflike member extending outsidesaid coil constituting an armature, an electrically conductive andsecond generally L-shaped pole piece having one leg thereof extendinginside said coil adjacent said first pole piece and having the other legthereof extending out-side said coil with the free end thereof disposedopposite the free end of said armature and normally spaced therefrom byan air gap, an electrically conductive and generally L-shaped contactspring disposed alongside said L-shaped second pole piece, an extensioncarried by said spring, elongated mutually crossing contact meanscarried respectively by said armature and said extension, said extensionof said contact spring formed with a slot to provide two arms, saidcontact carried by each arm for cooperation with the contact meanscarried by said armature, the exteriorly disposed leg of said first polepiece and correspondingly disposed leg of said leaflike memberconstituting said armature being upon energization of said coilidentically polarized to set up a repellent force therebetween causingsaid armature to move away from said leg in the direction of theexteriorly extending leg of said second pole piece, the exteriorlyextending leg of said second pole piece being coincidently oppositelypolarized to produce an attractive force for said armature, a furtherleaflike member similar to said first named leaflike member disposedalongside the other side of said first pole piece, an insulating memberfor mutually insulating the armature-forming legs of said leaflikemembers, and a third pole piece having a contact spring cooperatingtherewith for contact making cooperation with said further pole piece.

5. Electromagnetic relay comprising a magnetizing coil,

an electrically conductive and generally U-shaped first pole piece, anelectrically conductive and generally U-shaped resilient leaflikemember, said leaflike member disposed alongside said first pole piece,identical legs of said first pole piece and said leaflike memberextending inside of said magnetizing coil and identical opposite legsthereof extending outside of said coil, the leg of said leaflike memberextending outside said coil constituting an armature, an electricallyconductive and second generally L-shaped pole piece having one legthereof extending inside said coil adjacent said first pole piece andhaving the other leg thereof extending outside said coil with the freeend thereof disposed opposite the free end of said armature and normallyspaced therefrom by an air gap, an electrically conductive and generallyL-shaped contact spring disposed alongside said L-shaped second polepiece, an extension carried by said spring, elongated mutually crossingcontact means carried respectively by said armature and said extension,said extension of said contact spring formed with a slot to provide twoarms, said contact carried by each arm for cooperation with the contactmeans carried by said armature, the exteriorly disposed leg of saidfirst pole piece and correspondingly disposed leg of said leaflikemember constituting said armature being upon energization of said coilidentically polarized to set up a repellent force therebetween causingsaid armature to move away from said leg in the direction of theexteriorly extending leg of said second pole piece, the exteriorlyextending leg of said second pole piece being coincidently oppositelypolarized to produce an attractive force for said armature, a. furtherleaflike member similar to said first named leaflike member disposedalongside the other side of said first pole piece, an insulating memberfor mutually insulating the armature-forming legs of said leaflikemembers, a third pole piece having a contact spring cooperatingtherewith for contact making cooperation with said further pole piece, aplurality of first and second pole pieces respectively coacting withassociated leaflike members and contact springs, and the contact makingparts of said elements being disposed at opposite ends of saidmagnetizing coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS692,579 Wotton Feb. 4, 1902 977,008 Hines Nov. 29, 1910 1,685,847Huntington Oct. 2, 1928 1,799,651 Siegmund Apr. 7, 1931 1,876,295Hofgaard Sept. 6, 1932 2,205,502 Tromp June 25, 1940 2,275,531 LakatosMar. 10, 1942 2,450,001 Humphries Sept. 28, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 126,392Sweden Oct. 18, 1949

